Greet Koeman

Greet Koeman (1910-1961)

Greet Koeman was born in Zaandam on December 9, 1910. She studied with Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius and in the opera-class of Johannes den Hertog of the Amsterdams Conservatorium. Already during her study she appeared as Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. Then, also during her study she appeared in performances of the Wagnervereeniging (Wagner society) as 'brabantische Edle' in Lohengrin (May 1936) and as 'Woglinde' in Götterdämmerung, April 1937. Her real brake through came with the performance of Pelléas et Mélisande of Debussy on 28 September 1937, also an performance under the auspices of the already mentioned Wagnervereeniging. Greet Koeman interpreted the role of Mélisande, Frans Vroons was Pelléas. After this performance she belonged to the prime of the singers of the Nederlandsche Operastichting. After that she was attached to the Nederlandsche Opera and there she sang over a thousand performances in a repertory that comprised over 25 parts.